gavemea_45 | [AU] two worlds, a lot of demons, and a new set of problems

It's still hard to believe it's over; that the yellow-eyed demonic bastard they'd spent their whole lives hunting is finally dead.

Sam figures it'll sink in eventually. Given everything else -- right now he's still pretty numb.

He's also desperately tired, but that doesn't matter. There's something he needs to do, and he can't afford to delay.

He waits until they've settled in for the night, and then waits still longer. Once Dean's been asleep for half an hour, Sam picks up his messenger bag -- already stuffed with books and his computer -- and heads straight for the bar.

He orders black coffee and snags a table with a good view of both doors and the stairs, then pulls out the first of the old texts and starts to search through it.

There's work to do.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

pacificator

"Define 'a lot.'"

Say what you will about alleyways, but they're a closer stumble than the homestead is. "But a room for the night is looking better and better."

From:

gavemea_45

“Not a bad idea.” Especially when compared to sleeping in the street. “That way you can beat the hangover before going home.”

From:

pacificator

"I'll be nice and fresh for when I get back to drinking at Shorty's."

She reaches for some pretzels and crams them into her mouth. "Kinda nice to meet another demon hunter. Even if it also sucks that we're both demon hunters."

From:

gavemea_45

“You got that right. Both counts.” Sam downs the rest of his water and sets the bottle aside, then reaches for his coffee instead. One sip and he grimaces at how cold it is.

From:

pacificator

Probably she should apologize from taking him away from his coffee, his research. He'll need both to save his brother. And a lot more of each.

But the warmth fuzz of the whiskey and tequila is catching hold of her, and pretty soon she won't be good for much of anything. Unless there's a mechanical bull stashed away somewhere in this joint. She nods at his piles of books. "Want some help?"

From:

gavemea_45

Sam scowls at them for a few seconds, then shakes his head. “Not tonight. I’m just going in circles now anyway. Besides…” He looks up at her. “You’re already helping a lot by offering to bring Peacemaker to force the issue. I’m going to tell Dean in the morning, and I should be able to summon the crossroads demon tomorrow night.”

From:

pacificator

"Okie doke."

She sets her hands on the table top and stands, a little unsteadily. "Then I think it's time for me to go sleep this off."

From:

gavemea_45

She’s not quite steady, he realizes, and Sam’s on his feet offering her a hand before he realizes. “Easy there, tiger.”

He’s a little tipsy himself, but not too bad, he thinks.

From:

pacificator

"Holy shit, you're tall."

It takes a second for her glance to waver its way up to his face. "It's fine. I think the tequila got to the floor, though. It feels a little drunk."

From:

gavemea_45

“That happens,” he agrees. “And yeah, I am, I know.” Sam shuts his laptop with his free hand. “Want me to walk you up?”

From:

pacificator

She blinks and studies him, a little blearily.

For most guys, that wouldn't really be the invitation on the table. With him, she kind of thinks it is. "If you're going that way already."

From:

gavemea_45

“Give me a second.” He shoves his stuff into his messenger bag and slings it over his shoulder. “Got a room already or need to grab one?”

From:

pacificator

"Oh, heck, I should probably grab one instead of jostling every doorknob, looking for one that's unlocked."

She turns and swaggers over to the bar, her head fuzzier than ever, to do just that.

From:

gavemea_45

He follows after her, and realizes that he probably needs to do the same, although his original plan of hiding his visit from Dean’s over now that he needs to explain meeting Wynonna.

That’s okay. It’s worth it. More than. Still, it’ll go better if he’s not still breathing whiskey fumes when he’s telling his brother about this. Sam waits for her to ask for a key, planning to do the same right after.

From:

pacificator

A key materializes, along with another bottle of water. Wynonna takes both, grumbling, then steps aside, motioning for Sam to go ahead.

From:

gavemea_45

“Same thing,” he asks. “Although I could skip the water—“

Sam breaks off there as two bottles materialize along with the key, somehow in a pointed manner. He sighs and shoves them in the bag too. “Thanks.”

From:

pacificator

"Good night, grandma," Wynonna tells the bar, and turns for the stairs, wobbling just a little as she does.

From:

gavemea_45

He takes a couple of long strides and catches up with her. Sam keeps pace, just to make sure she doesn’t take a tumble.

“Like I said. She fusses.”

From:

pacificator

"Yeah, well. You look like someone who should get fussed over."

With his shaggy hair that's just begging for an older sibling to muss up on purpose, and that quiet sincerity that beams out of those puppy-dog eyes. Despite everything, he still looks like an innocent. She looks like someone they might base a CSI episode on.

If the stairs shift, they're nice enough to do when she's not paying attention. "Also not like someone who regularly goes on a bender."

From:

gavemea_45

“What’s regular?” He manages to stop himself from scowling, barely.

“I do not.”

From:

pacificator

Wynonna laughs and pats his shoulder. "It's okay, muffin. I won't tell."

From:

gavemea_45

He makes a promise to himself to never let her find out about Dean calling him Sasquatch, and rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Come on, stairs.”

From:

pacificator

Stairs. She can handle stairs. True, she has to set a hand on his shoulder to balance herself, but she makes it without stumbling. "We are crushing it."